Thanksgiving in our home

I feel more and more thankful every day. And then Greta offers up the prayer and my head explodes with thanks. We woke and drove to Warrensburg to eat with Papa and Gee. Gee brought "all the fixins" and we ate amongst the grandpas and nurses. We were all too stuffed to eat the pie, so we left it with Papa. That made him smile. We made it home with napping babies in the car, and woke them with slices of pie and whipped cream. And, Derek and I started to put up the Christmas tree while Jack and Greta flipped out over sugar and excitement. They were like cats when you rearrange the furniture.

The day after Thanksgiving we continued the fun and festivities. Grandma called from Kentucky and was at the Disney store buying black Friday deals for Christmas and Greta's birthday and she said they were running out. I panicked! I brushed my teeth and had Derek drive me to the mall! He dropped me off at Dillards and I ran for the Disney store to get Belle's Castle and a singing princess! They drove off for coffee and smoothies. I was triumphant. Then they took me to Target where I got the splish and fish bath toy for Jack and the last Lalaloopsie outfit....ever to be found...

And then we totally lost our marbles and Derek dropped me off at the GAP to get Christmas jammies for the kids at 50% off. I went in, and scored their size and then I waited in line for OVER AN HOUR. I think it was kind of fun to see the mayhem, and I am glad that I was alseep at 3 am when it all began. I will never stand in line for 50% off jammies again. I prefer shopping online and waving at the UPS man as he brings the packages to my open arms in my house....as long as he doesn't ring the doorbell and wake the babies.

But, we survived and went home to eat the most incredible cinnamon rolls from Costco. I began cooking our feast and Derek worked on the playroom (which is almost, really truly almost finished!)

We ate together at dinner time and it was the sweetest meal I have had in a long time. The kids mmmmm'd and yum'd and ate their bites. They loved the candles and ate my apple decorations. It may be the same every year, as long as it is not overlooked for beginning the Christmas season of shopping and stuff. I am thankful that there is a day that makes me sit down and look around me and smile from the inside out for all that is good in my life. It is simple and so great.

Well, You Know My Name is Simon....

I especially like the toes.

We spent a few beautiful days outside this fall just savoring the last moments before snow and ice. It was totally awesome to just sit in a big pile of warm leaves and watch them blow into the neighbor's yard with the south wind. neener neener. We also took a vote and it is unanimous that we have the prettiest tree on our street right in our front yard. Unfortunately, I never took a picture of it and now it is bare. Next year. It is huge and bright yellow. It casts a golden glow into our living room and Greta's room.

But, now the leaves have fallen and now we are almost ready for the flakes. We have to bundle up our chalk people.

Never Jump Into a Pile of Leaves With a Wet Sucker....

Oh, they loved it. They are napping now and it was a great morning. We dressed and ran out into the back yard filled with leaves and warm sunshine. It was so nice out and might be the last of these days before winter. I raked huge piles for them to jump into and they laughed and took turns. And then they turned and smiled and pulled me into the pile and tossed leaves my way until my bra was full of them, and my undies, too! I loved it. They made me feel like a kid again. These kids are amazing to me - their laughter and their smiles.

Lucky for Dad, we didn't bag the leaves so we can do this fun all over again when he is home with us!

Moustache

My good friend sent me some more photos from Jack's second birthday, and they were too cute to just store on my computer. I thought this would be a good place to stick them so we can look back and say, "Dang, we look good in 'staches.

I have left the streamers from the party still hanging in the dining room. If they hang on, they may make it to celebrate Greta's fourth in a few weeks. I might have to dust them, though.

It is my new philosophy that both streamers and moustaches do indeed make a space more interesting. If both are present, there is nothing to do but party, friends.

The Great Pumpkin

After watching The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, I heard Greta practicing for Trick or Treat. And, she said, "Can I have extra candy for my blockhead brother?" I didn't stop her, because I thought it was so funny! Isn't that horrible?

We trick or treated on our street and went to the Purple People Eater Party at Lytle's. There was chili, cornbread, and cider, pumpkin donuts and more trick or treating. I think they were the cutest kids on the block....other costumes included a NASA Astronaut, a fireman, Tenderheart Bear, a monkey, a shark and Lytle himself was Elliot from ET in a red hoodie, BMX bike with milk crate and ET in a white blanket. Our childhood lives on! And, I am rolling in candy now!

It was Boo-tiful!

October is already in the books and I am already reflecting on it with a smile. We did it up. Halloween was not just a day, but an event...like the Olympics. Every morning the kids woke up and ran to these spooky Halloween boxes that would squeak and play eerie organ chords and ominous laughter and wishes for a Happy Halloween. Each morning they got apples, some marshmallows, stickers, felt masks, glow wands, spooky Pez characters and all the like. I had too much fun! We made Great Pumpkin and full moon bisquits, pancakes and goodies for breakfast. We made ghost grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch...it was madness!

Greta had her first Preschool Halloween Party and rocked it. I volunteered to make a sweet treat and Greta helped me make Jello that I layered in clear cups, yellow, orange and a swirl of whipped cream and a few candy corns on top. They looked like pretty little candy corns. Greta decided to be the spider at her preschool party from last year, and we even painted a friendly little fly on the tip of her little nose. Other kids in the class looked so cute - there was a Minnie Mouse, Strawberry Shortcake, an orange and black witch, Woody, Veggie Tales Tomato, a Knight in shining armor (I told Greta to get to know him!) The little ones are so excited and so sweet. Halloween is sure starting to become a favorite!